Grand-piano truck



(No Model.)

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C. H. MARTIN. GRAND PIANO TRUCK.

PatentedApr. 30, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. H. MARTIN.

GRAND PIANO TRUCK. `1.\I0.4o 2,340. Patented Apr. 30, 1889;

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y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN II. MARTIN, or sIoUx CITY, IOWA.

` GRAND-PIANO TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,340, dated April 30, 1889.

' Application filed December 29, 1888. Serial No. 294,983. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain a perspective of my improved piano-truck,

l showing it as applied in one form for use.

Figs. 2 and 3 are a plan and a side'view of the same, respectively; and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views thereof.

In the embodimentof my invention I pro- Vide avskid, A, the forward end of which is provided with eyes or ears d a, or other suitable means for the application of the draft thereto, The skid is provided near its for- Ward end With a cushioned support, b, while at its opposite end it is provided with a cushioned back, b', and a push hand-rod, a', as also with a cushioned support, b2. The skid is also provided with elevated cushioned supports B B, one of which is arranged near each support b b2. Each support B consistsof a frame, B', the upper cross-bar of which is upholstered or plush-covered, while its lower cross-piece'consists of a plate, B2, which fits under a keeper or cleat, d, fastened to the Skid. -AJ

The plush-covered or upholstered cross-bars of the cushion-frames B B are provided at their ends with short plates or `cheek-pieces d CZ. These stand upright or vertically when said frames are in their folded position or lying at upon the skid to receive between them the piano disposed sidewise thereon, as is practiced in moving pianos with the same. The frames B B or cushions proper are held in their upright positions byineans of braces or plates B3 B3, hinged or articulated to the upright or vertical bars of the framesfand to the short plates e e, fastened to the skid A.

The hinging or articulating of the braces or plates B8 B3 permits of the folding of the frame Bf at down upon the skid A, as seen in a number of the figures. To the sides of the skid A, intermediately of the elevated cushions B B, are secured keepers or staples f, into which may be inserted standards, or through which may be passed straps or other means for steadying or binding the piano to the skid.

O C are trucks or rollers borne by axles C C', which are carried by bails C2 C2, hung, preferably, between the skid and the supports or'cushions b and b2, or other convenient points upon the skid.

It will be seen that in moving a piano, for instance, the skid, with the supports B B in their elevated position, is run under the piano and the rear legs removed, letting the piano rest thereon. The'supports are then lowered, permitting the piano at that edge to descend with them, the piano then being stood sidewise upon the supports. The other legs of the piano, if not already removed, are now taken off. The trucks or rollers having previously been disposed, as shownin a number of the figures, with their axles resting under the skid, the transportation of the piano can now be readily effected with convenience and facility by the application of the draft at the forward end, aided by pushing the same from the rear or at the side or from both the rear and side, In passing downa flight of steps or a stairway the trucks or rollers are swung so as to remove their axles from under the skid, permitting the skid to rest and slide directly upon the steps. Upon reaching the foot of the steps or alevel, the rollers or trucks, it is obvious, can bevreadily returned to their former position and again serve as a means for bearing the skid; also, upon reaching the point or place of destination, the legs of the upper or elevated side of the piano are again put in position and that edge lowered, per- Initting the inserted legs to rest upon the oor. The opposite edge or side of the piano is now raised by returning the supports B B to their elevated position, when the other legs can be put in place and the skid removed and disposed out of the way, ready for future use.

Buttons or pivoted plates g g are applied to the skid A at its ends, which are adapted to take or rest under the axles C of the rollers or trucks C, and retain the rollers or trucks elevated when necessary-as for instance, in descending steps or a stairway, as above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The skid provided with rollers carried by axles borne by bails, said skid having buttons or pivoted plates engaging with said axles, holding said rollers elevated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The skid provided with elevated rests or supports, each consisting of a frame, with its lower cross piece or plate engaging with a cleat orkeeper fastened to the skid, the upper side of the said frames having braces or props hinged or articulated to the skid and frames, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

3. The skid provided near its front and rear ends with cushioned supports, as also a cushioned back at its rear end, and with elevated folding cushioned supports or rests, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The piano-moving truck consisting of the skid provided with eyes or ears for the application of the draft thereto, and with a cushioned back having a hand push-rod connected therewith, the elevated folding cushioned supports having their braces hinged thereto and to the skid, the lower cross bars or plates thereof engaging with keepers or cleats applied to the upper side of the skid, and trucks or rollers hung upon said skid, and pivoted buttons or plates to engage with the axles of said rollers, holding the latter elevated, said skid also having fixed cushioned supports secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

C. H. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

S. A. TERRY, GEo. E. TERRY. 

